Studio Ghibli IMAX remasters announced: Whisper of the Heart and The Secret World of Arrietty

Enjoy Ghibli perfection in beautiful 4K

GKIDS is about to make U.S. and Canadian animation fans very happy. The distribution company is about to bring two more movies from Studio Ghibli, the globally revered animation house that gave viewers My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service, to IMAX theaters this year.

Hot on the heels of GKIDS' announcement that Kiki's Delivery Service (set to debut on Mar. 13) would also be coming to US and Canadian IMAX theaters this year, Whisper of the Heart and The Secret World of Arrietty have both been announced for IMAX screenings on Apr. 21 and May 19, respectively. This means audiences will be able to get lost in the world of Ghibli in crisp 4K resolution, which, considering the extraordinary visuals Studio Ghibli always provides, makes this Brit very jealous of my U.S. and Canadian friends.

Whisper of the Heart is a beautiful, feel-good coming-of-age classic from director Yoshifumi Kondo based on the original manga by Aoi Hiiragi and a screenplay and storyboards by Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki. It follows the young girl Shizuku, who, after becoming enchanted by the Baron, an antique cat figurine, sets out on a life-changing adventure to pursue her true talent for storytelling. Tickets for Whisper of the Heart's IMAX debut are available now.

If you're seeking a smaller-scale adventure, The Secret World of Arrietty is also a must-watch. Based on Mary Norton's The Borrowers, directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi with a screenplay by Hayao Miyazaki, the film introduces a hidden world beneath the floorboards. In this tiny universe, Borrowers, including a brave young girl named Arrietty, live quietly. But when Shawn, a human boy, discovers her, a new story of friendship and adventure unfolds. The film features the voices of Moises Arias, Bridgit Mendler, David Henrie, Will Arnett, Carol Burnett, and Amy Poehler. You can grab tickets for the IMAX debut of The Secret World of Arrietty now.

Showings of both films include the original Japanese-language version with subtitles and the English-language dubbed versions.

IMAX and GKIDS announced in early December last year that their partnership would continue. The Boy and the Heron was the first Studio Ghibli film to screen in IMAX format in 2023. Since then, Princess Mononoke received a 4K IMAX release, and we already know there are even more Ghibli films on the way.

While it's unknown whether these IMAX debuts will reach European audiences, we would be surprised if that weren't the case. With a name as beloved as Studio Ghibli, it seems likely that it's only a matter of time before fans in more countries get the chance to watch these movies in the same 4K treatment.

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Whisper of the Heart and The Secret World of Arrietty will be available in IMAX on Apr. 21 and May 19, respectively.